Definition
Third-person omniscient narration is told by a narrator who can move beyond any single character's knowledge. That voice may comment on past and future, enter multiple minds, and supply information no one in the scene possesses.
Example
Tom believed the meeting was secret, but across town his partner had already called the police shows an omniscient narrator who knows more than Tom.
Related terms
Common mistakes
- Calling a story omniscient when it only switches between limited viewpoints.
- Using omniscience to explain every motive instead of letting scenes create tension.